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Shloka 19

Daṇḍa as the Foundation of Social Order (दण्डप्रतिष्ठा)

मध्यस्थान्‌ सर्वभूतेषु दान्तान्‌ शमपरायणान्‌ | यजन्ते मानवा: केचित्‌ प्रशान्ता: सर्वकर्मसु

madhyasthān sarvabhūteṣu dāntān śamaparāyaṇān | yajante mānavāḥ kecit praśāntāḥ sarvakarmasu ||

อรชุนกล่าวว่า “มนุษย์บางพวกวางตนเป็นกลางต่อสรรพสัตว์ สำรวมตน มุ่งสู่ความสงบภายใน และบูชา(สิ่งศักดิ์สิทธิ์) โดยดำรงความสงบในกิจทั้งปวง”

मध्यस्थान्standing in the middle; impartial
मध्यस्थान्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootमध्यस्थ
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
सर्वभूतेषुamong/in all beings
सर्वभूतेषु:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootसर्वभूत
FormNeuter, Locative, Plural
दान्तान्self-controlled; tamed
दान्तान्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootदान्त
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
शमपरायणान्devoted to tranquility (śama)
शमपरायणान्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootशमपरायण
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
यजन्तेthey worship/sacrifice
यजन्ते:
TypeVerb
Rootयज्
FormPresent, Third, Plural, Ātmanepada
मानवाःmen; humans
मानवाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमानव
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
केचित्some (persons)
केचित्:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootकिम्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
प्रशान्ताःcalm; fully pacified
प्रशान्ताः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootप्रशान्त
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
सर्वकर्मसुin all actions/rites
सर्वकर्मसु:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootसर्वकर्म
FormNeuter, Locative, Plural

अजुन उवाच

A
Arjuna
H
human beings (mānavāḥ)
A
all beings (sarvabhūta)

Educational Q&A

The verse praises a mode of religious life grounded in ethical equanimity: impartiality toward all beings, restraint of the senses, and dedication to mental tranquility. Worship is presented not merely as ritual, but as serenity maintained through all actions.

In the Shanti Parva’s reflective discourse, Arjuna speaks about a class of people who pursue worship through inner discipline—remaining neutral and calm toward all beings and acting without agitation in any work.